Diving suit



E. D. BUIE DIVINF surr Jan. 27, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 20, 1950 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS EMERSON D. BUIE Jan. 27, 1953 I E. D. Bum 2,626.602

DIVING sun.

Filed July 20, 1950 '5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR EMERSON D. BUIE 7 Jan. 27, 1953 E. D. BUIE 2,626.602

DIVING surr Filed July 20, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR EMERSON o. BUIE E. D. BUIE DIVING SUIT Jan. 27, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 20, 1950 FIG.8.

FIG. IO.

INVENTOR EMERSON o. BUIE ATTORNEYS Jan. 27,1953 E. D. BUIE 2526302 DIVING sun Filed July 20, 1950 s Sheets-heet 5 4 I2 FIG. I I. I FIG. '2-

FIG. l3.

EMERSON '0. BUIE ATTORP IN VENT OR Patented Jan. 27,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIE (Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952),

see. 266) Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America. for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

This invention relates to diving suits in general and in particular to a diving suit of the circulating or recirculating type which is of relatively light weight and which may be advantageously used in underwater mine disposal and demolition work.

Conventional diving suits as presently used for relatively deep diving have an overall weight of from 190 to 200 pounds. This is an onerous load and is particularly uncomfortable for the diver while waiting to make a dive. Furthermore, because of the relatively large and rigid breast plate of these diving suits, the diver does not have the freedom of movement of shoulders and arms which is required for mine disposal and demolie tion work; nor does he have the wide angle of vision which is advantageous in this work.

This inventor has overcome the limitations and disadvantages of the conventional diving suit by producing light weight diving gear consisting essentially of a relatively light weight dress, shoes (weighing approximately 16 pounds each), an

open structure breas plate and associated'helmet ring, a helmet in which a larger part of the area thereof istakenup by plastic windows for both forward and upward vision, whereby the weight of the'helmet is reduced. Further reduction in weight has also been accomplished by elimination of parts inthemodified construction of the control valve in which the Hoke or oxygen controlling valve'is'directly connected to the high pressure side of the main needle valve thereby eliminating an adapter as used in the conventional combination of air control and Hoke valves. Also the exhaust valve structure'has been modified to compensate for thelighter weight of the diving suit byireduction of thelength of the coiled spring employed therein.

It is, therefore, the general object of the invention to provide a relatively light weight diving suit which maybe used in underwater mine disposal and demolition'work.

'It is also an'object of the invention to provide a relatively lightweight diving suit of the portable or self-contained type.

5 It is a'further object of the invention to provide such type of light weight diving suit which may be operated circulating as inthe manner of operation ofv conventionaltypes of diving suits and in which air is supplied'under pressure to the diver from an outside source, or recirculating as the particular circumstances attending the operation may require.

It is another object of the invention to provide a diving suit, of relatively light weight, which affords the diver greater freedom of movement than that which is obtained in the conventional diving suits.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a relatively light weight suit in which the diver has a range of vision through the helmet of approximately one hundred and eighty degrees looking forward and also an additional range of vision through the forward top of said helmet. I

With these and other objects in view, as will hereinafter more fully appear, and which will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference is now made to the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings which are merely illustrative of a preferred embodiment of the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the diving suit of this invention showing the recirculating canister attached to the helmet;

Fig. 2 isa partial perspective View of the diving suit when equipped for circulating operation, i. e. without the canister attached to the helmet;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the clamping ring and wear preventing shim of this invention as used for clamping the diving dress to the helmet ring to make a water-tight seal therewith;

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the safety latching means used to allow for wear on the rubber gasket inserted in the helmet ring and to prevent accidental loosening of the helmet from the helmet ring;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on line 55 of Fig.4 showingxthe latching means locked with respect to the ,helmetand the helmet ring;

Fig. 6 is-a'top' plan view. partially broken away of the recirculating canister and means for attaching 'said' canister to the rear portion of the helmet;

Fig. is: an enlarged sectional view illustrating the jetprincipled recirculatingarrangement;

Fig. 8 is apers-pective view of the helmet ring and breastplate assembly;

Fig; 9: is a perspective view of the breastplate;

Fig. 10 is a s'ectionalview of the breastplate taken on line Ill-i 0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. -11 is a perspective view of the Control and Hoke valve assembly;

Fig. 12 is a sectional View taken along line I2I2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of the shoulder pad harness and its relationship to the helmet ring and breastplate; and

Fig. 14 is a perspective elevational view of the safety ring clamp, partly shown in Fig. 11.

Referring to the drawings the complete diving gear of this invention is shown generally at 20 in Fig, 1. This gear comprises a pair of light Weight diving shoes 22 which may Weigh around sixteen pounds each. Knee or shin guards are shown at 25. The diving dress is of light weight and comprises trousers 26, jacket 28 and gloves 30. The trousers and jacket may compose a unitary garment. When the dress is of this unitary structure the opening through which the diver puts on or takes off the dress is enlarged. This opening is closed water-tight by a plurality of flaps 32 which are folded, gathered and sealed by clamp 34. Helmet ring 36 (Fig. 8) comprises a neck flange 38, the lower part of which fits snugly within the neckband of jacket 28 and forms a watertight seal therewith in cooperation with neck ring clamp 39 which, in conjunction with shim 43 and by means of turn-buckle screw 4!, bears uniformly on the neck band of the diving dress immediately below horizonal flange 42 of the helmet ring. (See Fig. 5.) Extending laterally from flange 42 are hooked lugs 43 which function to support and hold weight straps H2 and I74. Seating gasket 45 is inserted in a groove in the top face of flange 42 and forms a water-tight seal when helmet 53 is placed thereon. An arcuately notched locking lug 46 extends laterally from flange 42 in alignment with one of the threaded segmental lugs 48 which are positioned around the exterior surface of neck flange 3'8. Breastplate 58 which constitutes one of the features of this invention, as shown in Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 may consist essentially of a rectangular brass plate of which a large part has been removed to form an opening therein. This breastpla-te as shown in Fig. 9 is substantially of U shape configuration to conform to the shoulders of the diver. It is securely attached to the underside of flange 38 and serves to orient the helmet rin on and to transmit the weight of the assembled helmet and ring to the shoulders of the diver through shoulder pads as shown in Fig. 13. The underside of breastplate 50 may be lined with a resilient material, such as sponge rubber, as shown at 52.

Helmet 53 which is adapted to fit on helmet ring 36 and to form a water-tight seal therewith is provided with windows 54 for forward vision. These windows afford a range of vision of about one hundred and eighty degrees. A Window for upward vision is provided in the forward top of the helmet at 56. At 51 is shown the telephone recess. A canister for recirculating operation is shown at 58 attached to the rear of the helmet. There are a plurality of gooseneck connections on the rear of the helmet. These are 69 for the exhaust of air from the helmet to the canister, 32 for the inlet of oxygenated air from the canister into the helmet, 64 for the inlet of air underpressure into the helmet for circulating operation and 65 for the introduction of telephone lines. At 66 is shown the pressure air feed line from control valve I40. Helmet 53 is also provided with an air exhaust port which is fitted with a non-return valve as shown at 61 and 68 and with spit cook 69 for the exhaust condensate. 68 is the discharge port for exhaust valve 61. When operating circulating air, under pressure, enters helmet 53 from line 68 through gooseneck 64 and is exhausted from the helmet through valve El and port 68.

On the interior surface of and around the lower part of helmet 53 there is provided a plurality of segmental lugs 49 which are exteriorly threaded and are adapted to engage similar lugs 48 positioned on the exterior surface of neck flange 38 of helmet ring 36. Helmet 53 is placed in watertight relationship with respect to gasket .5 on helmet ring 35 by setting the helmet with its lower edge resting on the gasket. The helmet is readily set on the gasket by turning it through such an angle that segmental lugs 48 and 49 are clear of each other. The helmet is then rotated through an angle to bring the front window into proper alignment with the line of vision thereby causing the threads on lugs 48 and 49 to engage and to drive the lower edge of the helmet into watertight contact with gasket 45.

Means for prevention of the accidental disengagement of threaded lugs 48 and 49 is provided. This means comprises a threaded screw It which engages interiorly threaded lug II. which is securely attached to the exterior surface of helmet 53 and extends over arcuate notch 47 in lug i=6. Screw I0 is provided with a shank H which, when the helmet is rotated in sealed relationship, extends into arcuate notch 41. This projecting shank is movable within the limits of this arcuate notch to compensate for the wearing away of gasket 45, but because of the terminal limits of notch 47 prevents the accidental disengagement of lugs 48 and 49. I

A device for locking screw 3'8 in extended position is provided. This device comprises a lock pin M which when hole I6 in lug 72 is in alignment with hole T8 in screw I9 is adapted to enter therein thereby preventing accidental rotation of screw '50. Pin 74 may be secured to ear 8!! on lug I2 by any flexible means such as chain 82.

Canister 58, shown in section in Fig. 6, comprises a hollow cylindrical body provided with end caps 84 and 83. Cap '84 is hingedly mounted on canister body 58 as at 88 and is held in watertight contact of gasket 89 with the bearing edge 90 by means of the coaction of bifurcated lug 92 with pivoted threaded bolt 94 and wing nut 98 as shown in Fig. 1. Within canister 58 air purifier unit 93 is positioned in sealed relationship with respect to end wall 8! of end cap 86 by means of the bearing of end cap 84 on resilient handles 9| which are securely attached to the side walls of the unit 98. A port 93, communicating with space in the head end of the canis ter, is provided in boss 97. This boss is connected to gooseneck 60 by means of flanged bushing 99 which fits telescopically within port 93 and is firmly attached to boss 9! as by welding or otherwise. Bushing 99 in cooperation with flanged interiorly threaded nut I00 constitutes a coupling means for attachment of canister 58 to goos neck 60. An air-tight seal is formed in this attachment 'by the bearing of bushing .flange IOI on sealing gasket 102. A substantially unobstructed passageway for the flow of air from the interior of the helmet .into the canister is thereby provided. At the other-end of canister- 58, cap 86 is provided with chambers I04 and IE6. Partition wall I68 separates chambers I 04 and I 36. Interiorly threaded port III] in wall I08 extends between chambers I04 and I06. Chamber I04 communicates with the interior of canister 58 and, when-purifier. unit 93is inplace,

is adapted to receive air from the interior of helmet 53 purified and dried by passage through the purifier unit. Venturi tube -I I2 is'firmly mounted within chamber I86 by threaded engagement with *interiorly threaded 'port H0. This Venturi tube I I2 discharges into flanged bushing I I4 which in combination with flanged coupling nut vI I6 constitutes a coupling to gooseneck 62. Bushing I14 is connected to tubular bushing II8 making a, lap joint therewith as shown at I20. There is thus provided a path of gas flow from chamber I64 and purifier unit 98 to the interior of helmet 53. Bushing I I8 is provided with a plurality of flanges I22 which serve to position bushing II8 within goo'sene'ck 82. I

As shown in Figs. :'6 and nozzle I 30 is mounted in the wall of end cap I08 to discharge into the throat of Venturi tube 112. When this nozzle :discharges into the throat of the venturi, a suction is created in chamber I04 thereby causing a flow of gas through purifier unit 98 .and back into helmet '53. Nozzle vI 30 is connected to gas supply line I32, in which the gas flow is under the control of Hoke valve I16, The gas supplied may be oxygen. Nozzle I38 'is mounted on base plug I34 which threadedly engages the end wall of cap 86 as at I36. Plug I34 may be connected .to gas line I32 by adapter I36. 7

As shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the control valve shown generally .at I46 comprises valve body .I4I which is provided with inlet port I42 and outlet port I43 both of which communicate with valve chamber I44- This chamber is provided with a valve seat I45 which coacts with valve head I46 mounted on valve stem I41 to open and close the valve to the flow of gets under pressure therethrough. Valve stem I41 threadedly engages cap nut I48 as at I49 which in turn threadedly engages valve body I4I as at I50. Valve stem I41 extends through packing gland II which comprises the usual packing I52, compression ring I53 and compression nut I54 which is adapted to engage threads I 55 on the exterior surface of gland I5I. Valve stem I4I extends through compression nut I54 through safety stirrup clamp I56 and on its reduced end I51 is provided with hand wheel I58. A source of air or other gas under pressure is fed into port I42 from line I39 as indicated in Fig. 2. This gas may be .fed from valve I46 through port I43 to line 66. Safe- ,ty stirrup clamp I56 is adaptedto'be fastened to valve body I4] by screw means such as I59. When in position shown in ,Fig. 11, it prevents rotation of both cap nut I48 and compression nut I54 thereby preventing the accidential disassembling of the valve structure. Eye lug I65 is rigidly attached to the'bo'cly-of valve I40 and is freely attached to chest weight 'ISI by means of snap link I63 and loop I64 which is firmly attached to weight I6I (see Fig. 2). Control valve I48 is thus movably supported by the weight harness and can be readily operated by the diver.

Hoke valve H0 is tapped into throat III of valve body I4I on the pressure side of valve seat I45 and its discharge port is in communication with line I32 to the inlet of base plug I34 and nozzle I36. As shown in Figs. 11 and 12, Hoke valve I'IO is a needle valve which is capable of regulating the amount and rate of flow of gas therethrough.

The diving gear includes chest and back weights I6I and I62 which are of such weight as to give the diver a negative buoyancy so that he may readily move around when submerged. These weights are interconnected by shoulder straps e 112,- nt which pass through and are held by hooked lugs 43, straps I16, I18 which pass around the waist and 'by strap I19 passing through the crotch of the diver. The weights are thus held relatively fi-xed with respect to vertical movement, but can move laterally to some degree.

In the usual recirculating operation of the diving gear, valve I46 is seated on seat I45 and Hoke valve I16 opened to permit and regulate the flow of gas, such as oxygen, through the Venturi nozzle and tube to be admixed with the air withdrawn from the interior of helmet 53 after said air has been passed through purifier unit 98. When operating recirculating as above described, 'feed line I39 connected to a source of oxygen-or other gas under pressure.

When operating circulating, Hoke valve no may be closed, valve I46 is moved fromseat I45 and air or other gas passed through port I43, through line '66 and gooseneck -64 into the interior of helmet :53. In "this type .of operation air is exhausted from the interior of the helmet through exhaust valve 61.

The method of operation of the diving gear is believed to be apparent from the above description. This suit is capable of operation on a pressure bottle source of gas or on the conventional compressor pressurized .air system. If the operation is recirculating as above described, the Hoke valve is opened all the way and circulation through the helmet is maintained by the injection principle of the jet. Pressure at the jet is maintained at 5.0 pounds per square inch over that of the surrounding water. This pressure is controlled by the surface crew, the rate of fiow into the helmet "being dependent :upon the size of the orifice in the jet. If the operation is circulating pressure on .the feeding air .is maintained at about .30 lbs. per square inch :over that of the surrounding water, by the surface crew. The rate of flow into the helmet is under the control of the diver by means of the control valve. In either case the pressure in the suit should be approximately 2 pounds per square inch over that of the surrounding water. The pressure in the-suitis maintained by thetension of the exhaust valve spring.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosure-relates to only preferred embodiments of the invention and that-it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the examples of the invention herein chosen for the purpose of disclosure, which .do not constitute departures from .the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth inthe appended claims.

What is claimedis:

l. Diving gearfor use in underwater mine disposal, demolition work and the like comprising a light weight diving dress provided with a neck opening, a helmet ring positioned in the neck of said diving dress, adjustable clamp means for sealing the neck of said dress to said helmet ring, a light weight breastplate extending fore and. aft securely attached to said helmet ring, shoulder pads in said gear for supporting said breastplate, a helmet adapted to be removably attached to said helmet ring in water-tight sealed relationship therewith, said helmet and dress being in internal communication with each other so that admission of air into said helmet will inflate said dress, wide angle vision windows in said helmet for forward vision and a top window in said helmet for upward vision, said helmet provided with a plurality of ports for the admission of air under pressure for circulatory opera- 7 tion, for the admission of air admixed with oxygen for recirculating operation, for the exhaust of air in circulating operation, for the exhaust of air in recirculating operation, for the admission of telephone cables, and for the exhaust of moisture condensate and water, a canister provided with an air purifier unit removably mounted on the rear of said helmet in communication at one end with the port for the exhaust of air in recirculating operation and at the other end with the throat of a Venturi tube connected to the port for the admission of air admixed with oxygen whereby the flow of gas through the Venturi tube withdraws air from said helmet, through the said purifier unit in the canister and reintroduces the residual withdrawn air into said helmet, a control valve in communication on its inlet side with a source of air or oxygen under pressure and connected on the discharge side with the port in said helmet for the admission of air thereinto, a needle valve in communication with the high pressure side of said control valve and with the feed end of said Venturi tube Whereby, in recirculating operation, the rate of flow of oxygen to said helmet is controlled.

2. In diving gear for use in underwater mine disposal, demolition work and the like, a light weight diving dress provided with a neck opening and band therearound, a helmet ring positioned within said neck opening and band, said ring comprising an annular ring of T shape cross-section, the cross bar of the T constituting a vertically extending annular flange and the stem of said T constituting a supporting and sealing surface, two upturned ears diametrically opposed on said stem and adapted to carry weight straps, the upper surface of said stem provided with an annular groove with a gasket therein, a plurality of exteriorly threaded segmental lugs spaced around the exterior surface of said flange integral therewith and positioned above said stem, a helmet adapted to fit around said flange, to rest on said gasket and provided with a plurality of exteriorly threaded segmental lugs on its inner surface adapted to threadedly engage and interfit with the lugs on said flange where- V by as said helmet is placed on said ring and rotated into position, a water-tight seal is formed with said gasket, an arcuately slotted lug positioned on said stem to extend said slot beyond and parallel to the exterior surface of said helmet, an interiorly threaded tubular lug securely attached to the exterior surface of said helmet and projected over the arcuate slot in said lug and a screw adapted to threadedly engage said tubular lug on said helmet and to project into said arcuate slot in said lug, a transverse hole in said tubular lug, a transverse hole in said screw, a pin adapted to pass through both said holes to lock said screw in position within said arcuate slot to thereby permit limited rotation of said helmet with respect to said helmet ring and to prevent disengagement of the threaded lugs on said helmet with those on said flange.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 but further characterized by said breast plate comprising a rectangular plate provided with a centrally located opening therein, a layer of resilient material on the underside of said plate, said plate bent into an approximate U shape to fit over the shoulders of the wearer of said diving gear, to rest on the shoulder pads of said wearer, said plate securely attached to the underside of said helmet ring and adapted to extend downwardly, fore and aft, to thereby comfortably orient and transmit the weight of said helmet, helmet ring and breastplate to the shoulders of the wearer of said diving gear.

4. The diving gear set forth in claim 1, includinga single body member carrying both the control and needle valves in parallel arrangement whereby either valve may independently open or close off gas fiow.

5. Diving gear comprising: a helmet provided with a main inlet port and a main outlet port through which air is passed in circulatory operation, an air hose connected to said main inlet, a main control valve connected to said hose,

' a second inlet and a second outlet, an air purifying unit removably connected between said second inlet and outlet so that impure air drawn from the helmet may be purified and returned to the helmet, an oxygen introduction nozzle within said purifying unit, an oxygen carrying tube connected to said nozzle, a secondary valve connected to said tube, a single body member located ofi the helmet and integrally carrying both valves in parallel arrangement whereby either ifllalve may independently open or close off gas EMERSON D. BUIE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

